Lucky Girl

I am one lucky girl. This Christmas my sweet and loving husband surprised me with a very special gift. He bought me this.

 I was shocked to receive this beautiful opal necklace. It is very special to me since it was given to me by my husband in Bryant's honor. The opal is Bryant's birthstone, October, but even more special is the meaning behind the opal. Along with the necklace I received this.

The opal is called "Cupid Paederos" by the Romans, meaning a child beautiful as love. A gift of opal is symbolic of faithfulness and confidence.

 How sweet is that. After the birth of the girls Jeff gave me a piece of jewelry so that one day I could pass it along to them. Each of them would have this gift given from their Daddy when they were born. With Bryant being a boy we decided to buy him a pocket watch in Russia and have it engraved with his adoption date (made possible by the help of some very special friends). I did not expect to receive another gift for Christmas. So that makes me one lucky girl.

 Bryant is doing very well. Some days are better than others as with any child. The weather has been nice and he has loved being outside. He squints in the sun because he is not used to it. The girls have been home for break and they have had so much fun with him. Sometimes too much fun. Here are some pictures to laugh at. Poor little guy is so out numbered.

 Beauty Shop (They say he has great hair!)

He is going to be mad at me one day!

 He loves the wagon.



 Driving the car (yes it is pink)

Macie making flower arrangements for Mommy in the backyard

Transitioning

  We have been home with Bryant two weeks tomorrow and sometimes it seems like he has been with us forever. I have to remind myself that it hasn't been that long. He fits right in and for the most part is transitioning very well. In a way that is hard to explain he has been mine since the day we met. I have never considered him otherwise. So being here in the house with him doing our everyday tasks seems natural and he is very comfortable. He have limited his time in public places and with big crowds because he is not ready for that. We want him to feel safe and stable before we introduce him to the overstimulation of the outside world. It has been hard because I like to go, go ,go but it is best for him and his sense of security for us to slow down and make this transition one step at a time.

 I have to step back to his first few days with us and be honest and say it was a whirlwind. We brought home a very sick baby. He felt terrible and his world had just been rocked. The Monday after returned we spent the entire morning in the pediatrician's office getting blood work, nebulizer treatments and an abscess on his arm removed. It was all very painful for him and traumatizing for both of us. He was put on albuterol for wheezing. Anyone who has used albuterol knows what what I mean when I say I had a baby on speed. He was so confused and the medication made his so hyperactive. He would not eat anything. He weighed 15lbs 12oz.

Our biggest issue has been feeding. With is weight so low, the first few days I was freaking out trying to shove food in his face. He just pushed away everything. The more I tried the worse it was. After 3 days or this and all of the worry and jet lag I had had enough. I went to bed crying and vowed that the next day would be better and I would figure out this feeding situation. We left the orphanage with no instructions on feeding so it is all trial and error. He screamed in the highchair (don't think he sat in one to eat). I have realized the eating is also a control and independence issue. Bryant was self-feeding and drinking from a cup at the orphanage. Now home when given food he would throw it across the room and when I tried to feed him he got mad. It was not pretty. So I came up with the solution of making him think he was feeding himself and then I sneak behind him with a spoon. After a week and a half he is now doing much better. I think he also did not trust me when it came to food and now I have built a little trust. A few days ago Bryant ate his first Chick-fil-a chicken nugget and french fry (just one but better than none) so he is on his way to becoming a true American kid. He drinks pediasure now. He has started to snack on goldfish and crackers which is big progress. He will sometimes hoard food in his cheeks so I have to watch him. I have made sure that there are snacks at all times when he is playing so he starts to understand that there is no shortage of food. By the way, the girls are loving this. He also has lost his swollen belly he had when we picked him up, the diarrhea has resolved and he is now experiencing hunger. We are definitely making progress.

  Bryant has also come a long way developmentally. He is now standing on his own, lunging forward to walk, walking behind a push toy and he has even learned to climb the stairs. He is also verbalizing much more and has new sounds. He loves to dance to music and sometimes we will catch him trying to sing. So funny. We think he knows some sign language because he does certain signs when finished eating or wanting more. He gets jealous of the girls sometimes and he will argue over toys with Amelia. All very normal responses for a 1 year old and much welcomed. He loves to throw things, is super active, stays messy and explores everything (see videos below). Typical little boy.

 Christmas this year will be so nice having Bryant with us. Our family is now complete. I think about what Christmas is really about (not the gifts, to-do list and Santa etc) but it is about our Savior being born. It is a time of celebration. I am truly celebrating Christmas this weekend with my family. Thankful for the precious baby boy that lay in a manager and for the precious little boy that is mine. I hope you and your family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 Merry Christmas

 Seeing his reflection

 Hat just won't stay on

Microwave is endless entertainment

Outside on the slide

10 days with us

Today is Bryant's 10th day with us. So much has happened in 10 days I don't know where to begin. Since home he has begun to transition into his new life. I stop to think how much his life has changed in the past 10 days. It has completely turned upside down. We have had our ups and downs most expected but some unexpected (I will post more about this when I have time) but all in all he has done very well considering he has been sick with an upper respiratory infection, on the nebulizer, antibiotics and on top of all that the poor little guy had an abscess removed on his arm (another long story). I feel so bad for him. But again he wakes up every morning with a big smile on his face. True Bryant style. He has also become a Mommy's boy so far, we'll see if that lasts. I hope it does.

 Obviously I have been super busy with our new life at home. It is really the same as having a newborn. We are starting from scratch and everyone is learning their new roles, including Bryant. Even though I am busy I am enjoying all of the firsts that Bryant is having right now. By the fourth child I have learned that it goes by way too fast and you can never get the time back so I am making sure that I take it all in and enjoy the little things. He is getting so much attention and he loves it. Promise to write again soon about all of the updates with him but in the mean time here are some videos of my sweet boy.

Leaving the Orphanage

First day together in Moscow

Big Happy Family

We are home with Bryant and it is more than wonderful. We are now one big happy (and exhausted) family. It was a 24 hour journey from the time we left our apartment in Moscow to the time we landed at home. Bryant slept 4 of those 24 hours. We slept a big fat 0. I have to admit that the travel back home was one of the more difficult things I have ever done. I am happy to now forget every minute of it. When we arrived at the airport in Moscow we realized Bryant was running a fever. He had a cold when we picked him up at the orphanage but the cough kept getting worse and then the fever started. His 1 year molar teeth are coming in too so you can only imagine how he felt. And to top it all off he had a blow-out diaper right before boarding. I knew right then we were in for a long day. Even though he was sick he still had a smile on his face. He is such a trooper. I am amazed at his strength. During the plane ride when I felt like crying I thought look at all this little boy has been through and he can still manage to smile. I do think surviving the trip home brought us all closer in a crazy kind of way.

 When the wheels of the final flight touched down I was the first one out of my seat, the plane may have still been moving. The minute I stood up the tears started rolling. By that time everyone on the flight had seen me and we explained that we had three daughters anxiously waiting to meet their little brother. Everyone was so sweet and happy for us.  As we walked out of the airport we were greeted by our girls and family with a "Welcome Home Bryant" sign that the girls made. The happiness, joy, and relief were flowing out of me through my tears. The beautiful faces of my girls and family were staring back at me and I thought how lucky I was to have them all. As a tired little Bryant met his three sisters he took one glance and gave them a smile. You could feel the love and acceptance radiating from them. They had their brother home.

 Bryant now has one big Mommy and three little ones. The girls are very nurturing, but are almost smothering him. When we left the airport to come home Bryant started crying when we put him in the car seat which I figured he would since it was his first time being in one. I looked back in the car and  Sara Kathryn and Macie were crying. They were so upset that he was crying. They can't stand for him to be upset or cry. The littlest sister, Amelia, has been running around bragging about her new status "I da Big Sista." She is also the one Bryant loves to play with and watches her every move.

 Getting off the plane as my feet touched the ground all I could do was thank God for this little boy he has entrusted in my care and for bringing me back home safely to my girls. All of my prayers had been answered. It is proof that God does exist and through him anything is possible. The journey to adopt Bryant has been extremely difficult but as I watched my baby sleep in his crib on his first night home I realized it was all worth it.

 

Bringing Home Bryant

 The day has finally come to bring our son home. It is going to be a long and challenging day on the plane and through airports but at 10:00pm we will be home. It sounds so good. I have been waiting for this day for so long and it is finally here. The flight from Moscow to New York is 10 hours. I have to be honest I am really nervous. Bryant is one active little boy. I am not sure how we are going to entertain him for that long. I am equating this flight to labor pain with the girls. A painful thing you have to do, a means to the end, but after it is all over you forget how bad it is and it is definitely worth it.

 Yesterday, we went to the US Embassy to pick-up Bryant's visa to travel home and his original documents (birth/adoption certificates). We walked there and it was very cold. Bryant was snuggled up next to me but still it was freezing. He was overwhelmed with the sounds, lights, and cars on the streets but did not fuss just had a look of amazement on his face. We got to the Embassy and saw our friends from Michigan we met here who are adopting a little boy from the same orphanage as Bryant. When Bryant saw Max his face lit up and he started baby talking to him. I think he misses the children and playing with them. He will get plenty of play time with the girls, granted it may be barbies and baby dolls. (I hate to admit, we don't even own one truck at our house. If we did it would be pink and purple.) We are hoping to keep in touch with Max and his parents. Maybe our boys will be friends one day. We took a picture of the boys together. We were hoping to walk down to St. Basils and get a picture of them but we didn't. There is a lot of political unrest in Russia right now and St. Basil's is in Red Square near the Kremlin where a lot of protests are going on today and tomorrow. I hate we didn't get a picture but better safe than sorry.

 Yesterday was by far the hardest day for Bryant. He is teething and not feeling 100%. His stomach has not adjusted to what we are feeding him even though we are feeding him what we were told to. I think it is the anxiety along with teething that is messing his stomach up. I also think he has finally realized life has changed for good and he is not returning to the orphanage. He had made attachments there so we knew it would be hard for him. When we put him to bed last night he went down fine only to wake up an hour later. We heard noises so we went to check on him. He was rocking back and forth in the crib very fast. It broke my heart. I went in to comfort him. Then tried to put him back down in the crib only for him to start the rocking and crying all over again. It was a cycle for a little while and then I picked him up and started rocking him in my arms fast like he was and singing over and over. After about 30 minutes he finally fell asleep. I think the real adjustment has begun. We are very realistic about what I call "orphanage behaviors." These are self-soothing mechanisms that are learned behaviors. They are survival techniques. It is going to take a while to unlearn them so to speak. I know I can't fix all that he has been, even though I wish I could. All I can do is make the future better for him and provide the love and stability that he needs to attach to us and our family.

 On a more positive note, we do Bryant has started attaching to us. I know the attachment process does not happen overnight but we feel he has made some progress. Yesterday he began leaning in to me like he wanted a kiss. When I gave him a kiss he would smile. He has done this over and over. He also has started reaching for us when he wants us. When I put my hands out he crawled in to my lap and snuggled 2 or 3 times. We can tell he is much more comfortable being around us. He would not have done those things on our first day with him. He is more comfortable with the apartment too. He is roaming freely and cruising along the walls now. He has figured out the layout. It is really going to confuse him when we get to our house. Poor little guy.

 Well, soon we will be home for good. Our adoption journey will be over. We will begin our new life with three daughters and a son. I know it won't be easy but nothing in life that is worth it ever is. I know there will be more good days than bad and at the end of the day there will be nothing but love for my children and my amazing husband.

 To my girls, I am going to hug you so tight and give you a million kisses so get ready. To Cacky, Poppy, Aunt Missy, Aunt Rah-Rah, Nonnie, Pop, Papa, Nana and Aunt Anne thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping take care of the girls. Without you none of this would have happened.

Last request, please pray for our safe travels and our family as we all adjust to our new life with Bryant.

With Love, Heather

Our Days with Bryant

Hello from Moscow. We are having a great time getting to know Bryant, he has been wonderful, but we are so ready to get home. We received his passport today and will get his visa to travel soon. We have an appointment Friday at 11:30am at the US Embassy to finalize our paperwork. After this appointment WE ARE FINISHED. Thank God. Once we hit US soil in New York Bryant will be a United States citizen. The greatest country in the world and he will be part of it. We leave Saturday morning to come home. It can't get here soon enough.

 Bryant has done really well with the transition from orphange to us. He is eating and sleeping very well. He is such a happy child and I think that has a lot to do with it. I love his personality. He is overstimulated with everything here. He wants to touch, feel, smell and put everything in his mouth. In the orphanage they play in huge playpens so he is loving being free to roam. The first day he looked at me like he was waiting for me to tell him no. When I didn't I think he was confused but nonetheless happy. He is exploring his new enviroment and learning. He has been so funny trying to figure out all of the things he has never seen before like remote controls, cell phones, computers etc. Last night he was wired and hyped up and wanted to play and throw everything. I think he has realized life has changed and this is his way of expressing it. We got him calmed down by singing and playing music. He loves music. He dances and tries to sing. I have found that he calms down easily when you sing to him. He let me sing and rock him the first day we met him at the orphanage. So now, everytime before nap or bedtime he lets me rock and sing to him. He falls asleep in my arms. I am spoiling him already and I don't even care. He deserves every minute of it. Yesterday afternoon he feel asleep on my chest and I feel asleep too. After all the difficulty of the past few weeks this was the greatest feeling and so worth it.

 We gave him a bath for the first time yesterday. We did not do it the first day because we thought it might be a little traumatic. Well it was a little rough. At the orphanage he never got a bath. They shower them off. So sitting in the water is a new thing. After we put him in he started to cry. I quickly washed him and got him out. I think the bath is going to be a little bit of a challenge but may be better when he gets home and sees the girls doing it.

  The other big change for him is not having three layers of clothes and socks on. We turned up the heat in the apartment and put him in one layer of clothes and no socks. Having bare feet has really helped him cruising around and learing to walk. At first he was not sure about it but now he realizes how much better he can get around. In just two days I have seen improvement. It is amazing.

 Like I said before, we are ready to get this little one home and see the girls. Today especially I miss them so much. I miss the simple things we do everyday together. I can't wait to love on them.  2 days and counting until we are home.


Bryant exploring the apartment



First Bath

First Bath

This one is for his sisters

He wants the camera

Asleep with his thumb and pancake bear Sara Kathryn gave him

Cheerios before bed makes for one happy boy

Learning to brush teeth. Don't think he has ever done this before

Here is the $65 catepillar we bought on Trip 1. They gave it back to us at the orphanage. Don't think they liked it! Glad somebody does

Cruising around

Playing

Bryant Alexander Rogers

 We are proud to introduce our son Bryant Alexander Rogers. He is finally in his Mommy and Daddy's arms. Happy doesn't come close to the feeling I have right now, it is more like blessed. So blessed to call this sweet child mine. When the girls were born it was love at first sight. When we met Bryant at the orphanage in October it was the same feeling. In one instant I felt pure love for this child and it has continued to grow. I knew he was mine at first glance. Maybe I didn't give him life but I am going to teach him to live it. I am his Mommy now and forever. As with my girls, I would do or give anything for him. I want to give him everything he deserves. He will be loved by me, his daddy and his three big sisters.

 Today we tearfully left the orphanage. Tears of happiness, refief, and so many emotions. Bryant's caretaker, Nina, came in to tell him goodbye and she began to cry. She loves him so much and she is going to miss him terribly. When she started crying I could not contain myself. I started crying and we hugged and thanked each other over and over. She does not speak english but somehow we could communicate. We were both communicating our love for this little boy. I was so moved by her. I will be eternally grateful for Nina. I promise to pray for her often. She is my angel. She took care good care of my son and she showed him love. I have so much gratitude for her. She will never be forgotten.

  When we got in the car Bryant was a little frightened and extremely curious. He was looking out the window as we pulled away from the orphanage. I remember thinking, lyou are leaving your old life and beginning a new one right now.

  He did great on the car ride home. He sat in my lap (I know that would never happen in the US) so he did not feel restrained. I brought toys and juice so he was entertained. Once we got to the apartment he was his happy self. He couldn't get enough of his surroundings. He was touching everything and looking around. I can't imagine what he is thinking. We fed him his dinner which ended up being so funny. We have no highchair so we were both covered in baby food. He is asleep in the crib now. I keep checking on him making sure he is still there. I feel like I might wake up and it all be a dream.

Here is a quote that I love and feels so true today.

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time & miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands. ~~~ Kristi Larson

He is ours

Leaving the Orphanage

Bryant

Our first day together - Trip 1

Picture Taken on our first trip

First day at orphanage with Daddy

 Car ride home from orphanage

 First dinner together

 Messy Boy

 Daddy & Bryant

Night Night